Everything you need to know about the weekend in the NHL
Each Monday, we take a look back at games from the weekend to get you caught up on all the news, goals and quotes you may have missed.
Here are three storylines you might have missed:
The city of chumps
Prior to the Eskimos being bounced by their in-province rivals in the CFL playoffs, Edmonton's hockey team hit rock bottom moments after their most embarrassing loss of the season, a 7-1 thumping from the Blackhawks on Saturday night.
It was the Oilers' sixth straight loss and seventh in a row at Rexall Place, a stretch that motivated fans to serenade, heckle and downright shame the team on their way to the locker room.
If those holding the pitchforks and torches had it their way, the doom and gloom felt in Edmonton this morning would result in a Black Monday for head coach Dallas Eakins and his staff. But unfortunately for fans, drastic changes aren't expected, and the only respite offered was a rather inconsequential trade rumour floated through social media.
The Oilers can't escape themselves, their past mistakes and the suits holding legacy positions. A trade or a termination could very well be on the way, but with Edmonton now tied for the worst record in the league, yet another season has already been set ablaze.
Return of the mumps?
With Corey Perry and Francois Beauchemin fully hydrated and back producing for Anaheim, the mumps outbreak was finally over, right?
Not so fast.
The Ducks announced Sunday that bottom-pairing blue-liner Clayton Stoner would not play against the Coyotes after exhibiting mumps-like symptoms.
Illness seems to have hit the NHL like never before this season, with Anaheim as the epicenter of the mumps outbreak. The Ducks own the Western Conference's best record through it all, but you have to wonder how long this cloud will hang over a franchise that's already been tormented by injury.
Flames light up 3rd ... again
Every night, the Calgary Flames seem to play a little farther beyond themselves.
Down 4-2 in the third to the New Jersey Devils on Saturday, the Flames scored twice with the goaltender pulled for the first time in franchise history. The Flames completed their two-goal, third-period comeback by winning in the shootout, maintaining fourth-place positioning in the Western Conference.
The Flames' remarkable start to what was supposed to be another rough season can be credited to strong goaltending and one of the best young defensive tandems in the league. But let's not discount their stones, for a lack of a better term.
With three more goals in the third period against the Devils, Calgary now has a league-leading 30 tallies in the final frame to just 14 against, and has won five games this season when trailing after 40 minutes.
The Flames may not have all the talent, but they have displayed incredible resiliency all season.
Highlight Reel
With the Dallas Stars blitzing the defending champion Los Angeles Kings, Kari Lehtonen got in on the action and sprung Tyler Seguin with this perfect outlet pass.
There was nothing conventional about Colorado Avalanche goaltender Calvin Pickard's save on Jori Lehtera.
Say What?
Milan Lucic can't seem to stay out of the spotlight, and not in a good way.
After being dropped by a single punch from Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman Dalton Prout near the end of overtime on Friday, the Boston Bruins tough guy offered his thoughts on the incident prior to Saturday's game against the Montreal Canadiens.
Because that's a great time to be focusing on something other than an important game against an historical rival.
"It was the end of the game and I let him know that I wasn't going to fight him." Lucic told reporters. "I wasn't prepared and I let my guard down and that's what happens when you let your guard down. I've been in over 100 fights and I never took a shot like that.
"There have been many times where I could've done the exact same thing, and I could've held off because he wouldn't drop his gloves. I find it to be gutless and that's my thoughts on it."
Lucic added he'll be ready to go next time the teams meet. Mark your calendars: the Blue Jackets host the Bruins on Dec. 27.
Top Fantasy Lines
F Marian Hossa - Blackhawks
- Having experienced some hard luck the season, Hossa received the proper remedy from the Oilers. He scored a goal, three assists, two power-play points and featured a plus-2 rating.
F Nathan MacKinnon - Avalanche
- MacKinnon collected three assists Saturday, while taking four shots on goal and finishing with a plus-2 rating.
F Chris Kreider - Rangers
- The Rangers speedster filled out the stat sheet in Sunday's win over Montreal, collecting two assists, seven shots, five hits and a plus-2 rating.
D Jason Demers - Stars
- Of little fantasy value heading into the weekend, Demers may have found some in his trade to the Stars. He scored in his debut, adding three shots, two hits and two blocks.
G Jhonas Enroth - Sabres
- Enroth led the way for the Sabres in a 2-1 victory over the Capitals, stopping 43-of-44 shots for his third win of the season.
Injury Ward
- Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dan Hamhuis is expected to be sidelined for months after an MRI revealed significant damage to an undisclosed injury suffered Thursday night.
- Benoit Pouliot had earned top-line minutes with the Oilers in recent weeks, but the forward won't be featured on any line for more than a month as he recovers from a broken foot.
- Washington Capitals blue-liner Mike Green is considered day-to-day after leaving Saturday's loss to the Sabres after slamming into the boards.